Home

Former deputy PM to seek NSW Senate seat

Paul OsborneAAP
John Anderson says he has "carefully and honestly" considered the best way to help the Nationals.
Camera IconJohn Anderson says he has "carefully and honestly" considered the best way to help the Nationals.

Former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister John Anderson is aiming to make a political comeback as a senator for NSW.

The Nationals will shortly announce their NSW Senate preselection timetable ahead of the next federal election, which could be held as early as August.

Mr Anderson said he had given the issue careful thought and had been encouraged by many in the party to give it a go.

He told the ABC he did not intend becoming "a kingmaker or a king" but rather lead a "decent and civilised debate about our priorities".

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

"It is me saying to the National party, 'If you think you can use my experience ... I'm willing to have a go'."

The 64-year-old farmer and grazier was first elected to federal parliament for the seat of Gwydir in 1989 and was deputy prime minister under John Howard from 1999 to 2005.

The Sydney-born MP resigned in 2005 to deal with what he described as "a debilitating but thankfully benign prostate condition".

In 2011 he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service for his parliamentary role and support for rural and regional communities, transport development and water management.

Mr Anderson would have a strong chance of being elected at a half-Senate election if he were the Nationals' top-ranked candidate.

The Liberals have historically won the first coalition Senate seat in NSW with the Nationals' top-positioned candidate claiming the second spot.

Among the issues he would pursue would be resetting the economy post-COVID, lifting the rate of spending on defence and shoring up the future of the agriculture sector through downstream jobs for businesses that value-add food and fibre.

He rejected suggestions extra defence spending was primarily about fending off China, as it flexed its military muscle in the Indo-Pacific.

"There are four or five seriously dangerous trouble spots ... any one of them could blow up," he told the ABC.

What had been a peaceful global era was now "descending into something much more dangerous", he said.

With many in the Nationals considered climate skeptics, Mr Anderson said he was concerned about climate change as he lived "at the coal-face of it" as a farmer.

He said farmers should be better recognised for the role they are playing in tackling climate change and protecting the environment.

It is unclear who else will contest the preselection, which will involve hundreds of Nationals members having their say.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails